The Islamic Emirate has rejected Tajikistan’s claim that it killed four armed terrorists on the border with Afghanistan who were allegedly trying to cross into Tajik territory.
Tajik media, citing the country’s State Committee for National Security, reported that the individuals were killed on the Afghan border in the Shamsiddin Shohin district of Khatlon province.
According to Tajik media reports, the individuals had entered Tajik territory from the village of Darbandak in Khwahan district of Badakhshan province, Afghanistan.
Asia-Plus, a Tajik media outlet, stated in a report: “The incident occurred at around 12:30 a.m. on January 18 within the area of a border post belonging to the ‘Yol’ border unit, located in the Shamsiddin Shohin district of Khatlon province. According to officials, the armed individuals had entered Tajik territory from the village of Darbandak in Khwahan district of Badakhshan province, Afghanistan.” The Afghan government does not accept the claim that anyone attempted to cross from Afghan soil into Tajikistan as armed militants. The spokesperson of the Islamic Emirate says that clashes have previously occurred between Tajik forces and smugglers, and that the recent incident was also a clash between the two sides.
Zabihullah Mujahid said: “Yes, we have received information that there was a clash between smugglers and the security forces of that country in the border area with Tajikistan. Our investigations are ongoing to determine who these individuals were and what they were smuggling, but it is clear that they were smugglers. Such problems occasionally occur along the border with Tajikistan and smugglers are involved. The Islamic Emirate has also taken steps and we are trying to conduct investigations in this regard.”
Meanwhile, some analysts consider such claims about threats originating from Afghan soil to be baseless, adding that such allegations are not conducive to strengthening relations.
They also urge the government to increase security measures along the Durand Line and other borders with neighboring countries in order to counter such pretexts.
Military analyst Turyalai Zazi said: “None of Afghanistan’s explanations are acceptable to these countries, even if they are one hundred percent true. Instead, they look for excuses and use them to their own advantage.”
Another military analyst, Yusuf Amin Zazi, said: “It is the duty and responsibility of the government to take concrete steps to address the concerns of neighbors. If it fails to fulfill this responsibility, it will face criticism from the region and the world.”
This comes as the Islamic Emirate has repeatedly assured Central Asian countries of the security and safety of all borders. However, Tajikistan from time to time claims that it faces threats from Afghan territory and, for this reason, has proposed strengthening its border with Afghanistan to member states of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).
